cozenage

[ kuhz-uh-nij ]

noun

1. the practice of cozening.
2. the condition of being cozened.

Word History and Origins

Origin of cozenage¹

First recorded in 1555–65; cozen + -age

Example Sentences

It is true, he delivered it into his hand, desiring that he would hold it till he had sworn; but that artifice was a plain cozenage, and it was prettily discovered.

From Project Gutenberg

By cozenage almost incredible, Benjamin, at the age of eighteen, had been thus lured off to London; the London of Addison, Pope and Sir Isaac Newton.

From Project Gutenberg

Their system of cozenage is not only applied to persons outside the profession, from whom they expect material gains; it is always at work to take in and delude the members of the guild.

From Project Gutenberg

Or what should I say of the oppressions, injustice, cozenage in trading and in merchandise, which yourselves know better than I can do how much they have abounded in the kingdom?

From Project Gutenberg

Feigned necessities, imaginary necessities, are the greatest cozenage which man can put upon the providence of God, and make pretences to break known rules by.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• betrayal
• deceit
• disinformation
• duplicity
• falsehood
• fraud
• hypocrisy
• lying
• mendacity
• treachery
• trickery
• untruth